Woman Guilty In Fatal Hit & Run Breaks Down After Sentencing

DENVER (CBS4) – The driver in a hit-and-run crash that killed an 85-year-old man has been sentenced.

Latoya Nelson, 30, pleaded guilty to vehicular homicide and leaving the scene of an accident in December. Investigators say last March 27 she ran a red light at 13th and Kalamath, hit a car and ran off.

Nelson was sentenced to 10 years in prison, the maximum possible sentence under the guilty plea agreement, according to Lynn Kimbrough with the district attorney’s office.

Charlie Herrera (credit: Herrera Family)

Charlie Herrera, who was 85 years old at the time, was killed.

Nelson was also charged with assault for allegedly backing into another car and nearly running over a security guard at a nearby Burger King parking lot before the crash.

“Family members of both the victim and the defendant filled Denver District Courtroom 5A this afternoon, in a lengthy and emotional sentencing hearing,” Kimbrough said in a statement. “Nelson was visibly distraught, collapsing to the ground after hearing the sentence, and was helped from the courtroom by Denver sheriff deputies as she was remanded to begin serving her sentence.”